|
|
Post by morgullord on Jun 10, 2008 12:42:58 GMT -5
Do not rely upon my ravings as authority.
|
|
|
|
Post by happy on Jun 10, 2008 14:05:52 GMT -5
I've had a government credit card for about 9 years and have done an awful lot of traveling during the past 6 of those years. Typically, you only submit actual expenses if they exceed the per diem and M&IE. However, you do have to submit your receipts for certain things. Here's an excerpt from some Agency guidance:
Q. What documentation must I attach to my Travel Voucher when submitting it for reimbursement?
A. To ensure the timely processing of a Travel Voucher, the traveler should make certain that the following documents are attached to their claim:
• An approved Travel Authorization.
• Receipts for any lodging expense, regardless of the dollar amount.
• Receipts for any authorized common-carrier transportation expense (reimbursable and non-reimbursable), regardless of the dollar amount.
• Receipts for any authorized expense in excess of $75.00.
|
|
|
|
Post by yogibear on Jun 10, 2008 14:32:08 GMT -5
I've done a good amount of govt. authorized travel. You need receipts for hotel, flights, covered shuttles or taxis (they will tell if you are expected to take a hotel (FREE) shuttle from the airport) and any airport parking or valet parking while you are away. You receive per diem for food and incidentals and DO NOT need to itemize. Incidentally, many hotels we are booked in for longer training will be residence inns with kitchens, and full breakfast and buffet style simple dinner included, but you still get your per diem. Sometimes $5 a day is allowed for phone calls home (without proof of call or cost). For any other expenses, it's best to ask to the management assistant or the HOD, who can either review the guidelines with you and/or approve the expense. It's best to ask ahead if you have any forseeable unusual expenses, such a medical need for a refridgerator when there won't already be one in the room (that's what came to mind). But for the most part, the Management assistant and the HOD are very knowledgable. Good Luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by yogibear on Jun 11, 2008 10:18:13 GMT -5
(Jagghagg to Morgullord)
Morgullord Haiku
A glimpse into the soul
Quietly now awaiting
(Morgullord to Jagghagg)
Wisdom deep and pure
Truth tempered with compassion
Lovely Jagghagg speaks
I just wanted to suggest that Morgullord and Jagghagg get a room...I mean their own topic....heehee
|
|
|
|
Post by morgullord on Jun 11, 2008 10:25:04 GMT -5
Yogibear, let's not forget that the exchange was started by:
The dawn burrito;
Paper-cup coffee all day;
Mind and body overwhelmed.
And I subsequently posted a limmerick, the lowest form of humor:
There was a young lady of Jagg
Who went by the suffix of Hagg
Though Morgullord tried
To catch her wide-eyed
Her wit not an instant did lag.
Jagghagg is Major League; by comparison I am playing in the Northern Independent League, where players get traded for bats or gloves.
|
|
|
|
Post by yogibear on Jun 11, 2008 11:48:19 GMT -5
Morgullord,
Good mentors are tough to find.
Yogi
|
|
|
|
Post by tootsie on Jun 12, 2008 17:16:41 GMT -5
OK guys, back to the topic at hand.
Training is as expected. A bit boring for those with extensive agency experience, and a bit much for the newbies. They have employed "intelligent design" however, in setting up the tables with old ODARS and newbies intermingled.
The social scene is excellent. Been to lunch and dinner with folks every day and I am getting to know and appreciate all the various experiences and backgrounds, not to mention the wonderful assortment of restaurants! The class is cohesive and everyone seems to get along just fine. The trainers are very good at what they do, and they also meet and mingle with the "baby ALJ's" after hours (although they never use that term!)
The only "issue" was 4 days of temps around 100 degrees and inefficient air-conditioning on the bus on the way home. Despite valiant efforts to arrange alternate travel, we just had to sweat it out! Literally!
The hotel is fine, but the computer hook-up is so slow it rivals dial-up. Some people are using a local gym (Gold's I believe), and there is a small exercise room conveniently near to the laundry.
Well, tonight is "wine and cheese" night, so I have to sign off-
|
|
|
|
Post by judicature on Jun 16, 2008 16:42:43 GMT -5
Training is as expected. A bit boring for those with extensive agency experience, and a bit much for the newbies. Now Tootsie, on behalf of the newbies in your class (and I am one), I must take exception to the idea that we, lacking SSA experience, are simply overwhelmed by the training.  I think the training is designed to bring everyone to the same place as far as substantive knowledge is concerned (and that is why you find it a "bit boring for those with extensive agency experience"). While there is certainly no substitute for experience, I don't think it is fair to suggest that those of us who lack it are slow learners.  I am benefiting tremendously from the training; hopefully, the claimants and reps will agree! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by kolekole on Jun 19, 2008 13:18:29 GMT -5
There are washers and dryers in the hotel. My orders contained an additional $40 or so for dry cleaning, I think.
|
|
|
|
Post by judicature on Jun 19, 2008 19:06:45 GMT -5
6 to 7 changes of clothes should be about right. That is what I brought, but bring a suit also. Some VIPs will be visiting with you (you will receive advance notice), and then there is the closing ceremony, which they are billing as a pretty big deal. I will have worn my suit on three days: the day when Lisa DeSoto spoke, today when Commissioner Astrue spoke, and on the last day for the graduation ceremony.
|
|
|
|
Post by globalpanda on Jun 19, 2008 22:01:13 GMT -5
i had a few more questions about lodging logistics....are washer/dryers available at the hotel? or is laundry service reimbursed by the govt? i would really like to just bring about 6-7 outfits and wear "repeats" each week instead of lugging tons of clothes with me to baltimore. has anyone heard anything about this? Travel Regs allow for reimbursement of laundry expenses if you are in travel status for more than 3 or 4 days. Your TO will usually show a nominal fee for laundry. Even if you don't ask. This is because the software used (Travel Manager) is such a pain. If they do not put something in there for laundry etc, then they have to "amend" the TO if you legitimately ask for reimbursement. You usually do not have to show receipts, but you might want to keep receipts just in case the Admin Aide and/or HOD asks. Plus, I find it far more likely that I will remember to ask for a legitimate reimbursement if I have a receipt in front of me to joggle my memory. You will need receipts for the Hotel, Transportation, and anything costing over $75.00 (Check with your HOD) One other word of caution. Do not put anything containing Alcohol on your travel card. Same goes for "gentlemans clubs" We have absolutely no sense of humor about it. |
|
|
|
Post by counselor95 on Jun 19, 2008 22:13:29 GMT -5
i had a few more questions about lodging logistics....are washer/dryers available at the hotel? or is laundry service reimbursed by the govt? i would really like to just bring about 6-7 outfits and wear "repeats" each week instead of lugging tons of clothes with me to baltimore. has anyone heard anything about this? Washers and dryers are available, for $1.75 per load (the front desk is glad to make change into quarters). I brought laundry detergent, dryer sheets, etc. The laundry is supposed to be reimbursed, but my understanding is only with a receipt, which the front desk will not give because they are only giving out quarters, not doing the laundry. Dry cleaning is reimbursable up to a certain amount with a receipt, if the travel order so states. I don't know about laundry service -- I prefer to do my own (so if my clothes get ruined, at least I know I am to blame!) The front desk staff is great -- ready to answer questions about addresses and directions -- and very friendly, which is nice when away from home for so long. BTW, a great restaurant, for those with cars or willing to take a taxi, is G & M restaurant about 7 miles from the hotel, where the locals eat (804 Hammonds Ferry Rd, Linthicum, MD 21090). The crab cakes are great, and try the desserts if you possibly can (a wide variety, made on the premises, from cheesecake to German chocolate cake to Chocolate Mouse (no, that is not a misprint!). A dinner with one crab cake, salad, two vegetables, bread, and coffee or hot tea is $17; a dinner with two crab cakes and all the rest is $24 -- much cheaper for the amount of food than restaurants at the Inner Harbor. The crab cakes are huge; everyone I know who ordered two crab cakes took one back to the hotel for the next night's dinner. Just be forewarned they don't like to split checks (better to take cash) and groups larger than four will wait longer to be seated together. G & M is two blocks from the robe store, should shopping make one hungry! |
|
|
|
Post by lurker on Jun 20, 2008 9:34:02 GMT -5
 G & M is two blocks from the robe store, should shopping make one hungry! There's a robe store?
|
|
|
|
Post by judicature on Jun 21, 2008 10:02:00 GMT -5
Yeah there is a robe store - I think their primary customer base may be choirs and ministers, but several in the current class have purchased robes there. I already have one, so I can't tell you name of the place
Check with Terri (sp?) - she is your primary contact during training and coordinator of it all - she is an outstanding resource on many, many questions and issues. Treat her well....
|
|
|
|
Post by counselor95 on Jun 21, 2008 21:22:55 GMT -5
If anyone wants info on the robe store, pm me. And as a disclaimer, I have no financial stake in the robe store. I just wanted to actually go to be fitted, instead of trying to buy online. It's kind of a mom and pop store, very nice folks.
Speaking of nice folks, Terri is great and never loses her smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by judicature on Jun 24, 2008 19:42:12 GMT -5
Our ceremony will conclude around 11 or 11:15a.m., or so we are told. The time may be dependent upon the schedule of others (i.e., not the ALJ trainees), so I would exercise caution in scheduling too tight on the flight schedule.
|
|
|
|
Post by counselor95 on Jun 24, 2008 19:54:43 GMT -5
when does the june class graduate? will someone please let us know if the graduation ceremony is over around 10:ish like the last class? i know we're supposed to plan on staying til 1, but I would absolutely LOVE to hop on a 12:30 flight HOME after being gone for FOUR WEEKS!!! We were told the bus will leave the training site at 11:30am for the airport, so that would not arrive at the airport until maybe noon -not in time for security screening, etc., before a 12:30pm flight. Believe me, we are all soo ready to go home -- but most of us are in transition, betwixt and between-- without a familiar home to return to! |
|
|
|
Post by tootsie on Jun 24, 2008 20:36:45 GMT -5
Counselor 95 is right- and there are still last minute details to work out. For example, you can bring your luggage on the "graduation day," have it scanned, and later take an SSA bus to the airport, but getting your laptop computer into (and out of) the "compound" is another matter. They can do it, but it seems like a big hassle.
Even though I'm as eager as anyone to get home, that 4 PM flight is seeming more and more reasonable. After "graduation" I plan to come back to the hotel, change clothes, and check out. Then leave my luggage at the hotel and take the laptop with me for a nice late lunch with friends near the hotel before taking a taxi to the airport.
Maybe I'll have enough Samuel Smith's Nut Brown's Ales to forget about picking up the luggage again- Oh well, it's only clothes...
BTW- the board members have all really enjoyed meeting each other and linking faces to screen personas. Some are particularly fitting, (but I wasn't talking about you, Cybear). I hope that future classes will also have fun finding each other and explaining how we came up with such goofy names!
|
|
mango
Full Member
Posts: 50 
|
Post by mango on Jun 25, 2008 7:06:53 GMT -5
we were told we would be done by 1100 as well. we were actually done by about 1000. I would not schedule a tight flight either, but when we talked to the bus driver, they were just sitting around waiting to come get us. they said if someone would have called they could have come and gotten us earlier. i would suggest working with terry or kim and asking them to call the driver earlier if you get done earlier.
congratulations!
|
|
|
|
Post by tootsie on Jun 25, 2008 16:33:55 GMT -5
gracias, Mango
|
|
I think the training is designed to bring everyone to the same place as far as substantive knowledge is concerned (and that is why you find it a "bit boring for those with extensive agency experience"). While there is certainly no substitute for experience, I don't think it is fair to suggest that those of us who lack it are slow learners. 
I am benefiting tremendously from the training; hopefully, the claimants and reps will agree! ;D
